State Leaders to Visit Four Northern MN College Campuses

Commissioners Pogemiller and Sieben tout $3.34 million for bonding projects

ST. PAUL -- Governor Mark Dayton's higher education bonding bill continues to be the focus of a statewide tour, with visits this week at campuses in Ely, International Falls, Hibbing and Grand Rapids.

Larry Pogemiller, Commissioner of the Office of Higher Education (OHE), and Commissioner Katie Clark Sieben from the Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED, will visit four campuses in the Northeastern Higher Education District (NHED) on Thursday and Friday. Their schedule includes:

Thursday, May 1

10:00 a.m. Vermilion Community College, Ely

2:00 p.m. Rainy River Community College, International Falls

Friday, May 2

9:00 a.m. Hibbing Community College, Hibbing

12:45 p.m. Itasca Community College

The Governor has recommended $3.34 million for projects at these four campuses, including the renovation of classroom and lab spaces, as well as the installation of a biomass boiler system at Itasca.

Dr. Sue Collins, President of NHED, will join the Commissioners at each stop.

"The colleges of the Northeast Higher Education District not only provide strong academic programs for their students, they are also integral to the economic viability of the region," said Pogemiller. "These recommended investments will allow them to continue to educate their students in up-to-date classrooms and labs, as well as address pressing infrastructure issues."

"Our highly-educated and productive workforce is our greatest asset in Minnesota, and we must continue to provide learning environments for continued growth," said DEED Commissioner Katie Clark Sieben. "The proposed funding for the Northeast Higher Education District will provide infrastructure support for the classroom and lab spaces needed for our future workers."

Upcoming visits include Minnesota State College -- Southeast Technical in Red Wing, and Winona State University, among others.

Governor Dayton's Capital Investment bill includes $233 million for higher education projects at the University of Minnesota and MnSCU campuses.

For more information, contact Sandy Connolly at the Minnesota Office of Higher Education, 651-2590-3902, cell phone 651-341-6617 or by email at sandy.connolly@state.mn.us, or Madeline Koch at DEED, 651-259-7236, cell phone 651-398-9459 or by email at madeline.koch@state.mn.us.